The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-11-24
was brought to a stop. No blame at.

taches to the trainmen. They all
gave their evidence in straight-for-
ward manner, and without apparent
reserve, and all agreed in their testi.
meny that had there been more
track room in the yard the danger
would have been far less-that the
company has not sufficient yard IA
cilities here for transacting its pres
ent business with dispatch and safety.
Some of them further expressed the
opinion that the crossing where the
accident occurred was extra hazard
Gus from its location relative to the
depot. They have orders not to keep
II crossing closed longer than five
minutes, bat this order is personal to
each one, and no matter how long
one may have he'd train upon 1t,
the next one has the fiye-minute
privilege. The fact that the passen-
ger train had blockaded the crossing
fully FIVE minutes did not, prevent
nor prohibit the freight tram from
taking immediate possession Of it
and blockading it for the same
length of time. They were also of
the opinion that it was the business
of the people to look out. for the
trains--not the trains for the people.
It also appeared In evidence that the
schedule lime OF the passenger
train and the freight train from the
east at this station are identical-108
P. NJ, although the freight leaves
Melrose twenty minutes before the
passenger. The passenger conductor
testified that he is not chargeable
with the knowledge of any freight
trains, and takes no notice of them
at all unless they are in his way.
1t is the business Of freight trains to
keep out of the way of passenger
trains. He thought the drivers were
frequently reckless and he had wit
messed several narrow escapes. 9th.
er evidence showed that when the
passenger train moved of the west
end of the crossing the caboose Of
the backing freight train was NOV.
ing upon the west end of it, the dis
lance between the trains not exceed
Ing eight feet. None of the train
men witnessed the accident except
ing the rear beakrman, who was on
the roof OF the box car next the ca.
boose, and he only saw the caboose
strike the horses, when he immedl-
ately gave the signal to stop and
commenced setting brakes. e s..as
The eye-witnesses of the accident
were all citizens, who substantially
agreed to the facts rs given above.
The drivers of the omnibusses of
Coats Bros and the Star Hotel say
that it was the usual custom to or os s
the track as soon as the passenger
train pulled out, unless the side track
was blockaded, although when in a
great hurry they did not wait for the
passenger train to leave, but went to
one of the other crossings. They
said that the Hall omnibus usually
pulled out first and swung around
with the horses facing the passenger
coach, and very close to it, waiting
for the passenger train to move from
the crossing. Then it started at
lively rate, the others following. /
They also testified that on the day of
the accident they could not see the
backing freight train at all, and had
no intimation that it was near the
crossing, and either of them might,
in the nature Of things, have done
just us Ammy Hall did-attempt to
make the crossing without apprehen-
sion of danger. 10. ..y.:v ....y-s- =.
Such is substantially the evidence.
not in the order of it, but the gist of
it taken as a whols, and upon which
the jury had to base its findings.
The taking of the evidence con-
sumed all day and till late in the
evening, when the inquest was gain
adjourned. until 9 A. NJ. Saturday,
when the coroner and jury again met
and after aconsultation OF over three
hours.rendered the following verdict,
which must certainly meet with the
approval of all who heard the testi.
moHy and are familiar with the
facts s1-1 ..-' ~ 6 -se...--j
STATE OF MINNESOTA E-~ |
COUNTY OF STEARNS. '.." ~
An inquisition taken at the Vii.
lage of Sank Centre, in the County
of Stearns, on the 18th, 18th and 18th
days of November, A. D. 1887, before
j. y. Dubois, deputy coroner, Of the
said county of Stearns, viewing the
body of Ammy Hal. lying there dead.
by the oaths of the Jurors whose
names are hereunto subscribed, VIII o
being sworn to enquire on behalf OF
the State of Minnesota, when, h ow and
by what means the said Army Hall
came to his death. upon their, oaths
do say, that the inquest developes
the following facts, viz: s'1 .
FIRsT-That the general facilities
of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba railway Co., IN Sank Gem
tire, are wholly inadequate to the
present business of the said COM
pany. .aas3
SECoND-That the regulations for
operating trains on the road of said
company are not such as to insure
safety to their patrons, or the public.
THIRD-That said railroad com pa
ny has, fora long time maintained at
its depot In Sank Centre a very dam
gerous crossing, without establish,
ing any danger signal whatever.
FOURTH That Army Hall, un-
doubleday aware of the danger Of the
said crossing, came to his death at
Sank Centre, in the County of